The best games of 2015 so far (January-June)

We are officially at the halfway mark for the year 2015, and this year produced some awesome games. From RPGs to FPSs, there have been plenty of great games to go around and 2015’s offerings are much better than 2014’s already. So here are the best games to buy and play for the year (so far). It’s important to note that this list does not contain any game for 2014, even if it came out in December. This is strictly a 2015 list.

Monstrum

This survival horror by Team Junkfish has randomly generated rooms, with three monsters you must avoid while navigating a giant cargo ship. It’s a difficult game to beat, but that’s what I love about it. It has plenty of jump scares to go around, but it’s not over the top. If you’re looking for a great new horror game to try, make it this one.

Resident Evil HD

Remakes are awesome, especially when they recapture the horror that the original game gave you. This remake is one of the best, and Capcom should be proud of their work. If you never played the original on the PlayStation, this isn’t a bad option at $20 USD.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

This game is already being mentioned for Game of the Year awards, and it’s obvious why. The vast open world environment is perfect for the polished RPG. It’s a definite improvement from its predecessors, and it challenges you every step of the way. This could easily be the best game of the year. CD Projekt Red hit a home run with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.  

Bloodborne

An excellent game to add to your PS4 collection, Bloodborne plays with a variety of genres including action, horror, and adventure. The mechanics feel very smooth, with camera angles that assist you rather than fight you. This game includes collectibles, upgrades, and some really fun and unique boss fights that will keep you playing for hours. 

Mortal Kombat X

Following the fighting style of the 9^th installment of Mortal Kombat, this game helps us fall in love again with the series that’s existed since 1992. What stands out to me is the online matchmaking improvements. With options like King of the Hill and online ranked matches, the game provides a lot more variety that most online fighting games don’t.

Heroes of the Storm

Blizzard Entertainment brought us Warcraft, StarCraft, Hearthstone, and Diablo, all of which are amazing, successful, and extremely addicting. Heroes of the Storm is no exception to Blizz’s stellar track record. You can play this game for hours and easily lose track of time. It released at the beginning of June, and is a free-to-play game that is supported by fair micropayments.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D

As I said earlier, remakes are awesome, and this game might be the best remake so far this year. This game captures the original to near perfection, adding an improved method of handling time and some fishing ponds. On top of that, there are much-improved graphics and features that help keep it fresh for veteran players. Now if only Nintendo will hurry up and remake Twilight Princess already. 

Titan Souls

This indie game by Acid Nerve is awesome. If you’re a fan of The Legend of Zelda series, then you should play this game. Titan Souls is a strategic, 2D open world where the objective is to defeat nineteen total titans. It sounds easy, but you only get one arrow to use. This is not a joke. And, if you get hit, you die. So one arrow and one-hit kill, plus you must defeat nineteen bosses. It’s a brutal game, but it is ridiculously fun.

Pillars of Eternity

This cRPG by Obsidian Entertainment is a spiritual successor to the game series Baldur’s Gate, and being a big fan of that series, I felt obligated to try this game. I was not disappointed. This game is starting to drag me away from my consoles, and more towards my PC. My favorite thing is the tactical combat system, and it always fun to try out a new class with the hireling party-customization feature. 

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse

Nintendo created an adorable game, and this time, Kirby is in clay form. This game is one of the cutest games I’ve ever played, but don’t let the cuteness fool you; this game has some tough levels and bosses. I’ve died plenty of times playing this game, and the challenges make great use of the Wii U’s gamepad. It also has five collectibles on each level, so collection-happy gamers will have plenty to do.

These games are not rated or listed from any scale. However, if I had to select just three games to recommend playing from this list, they would be The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Titan Souls, and Pillars of Eternity. All of these games are a blast, and the rest of 2015 will get even better later in the year.